Should We Teach Should We Teach Standard English?Standard English?

By Hiroki Shimotori

Standard English?Standard English?

What is Standard English? How do you define it? Why do some teachers believe Standard

English should be spoken in class? Does it affect students’ identities? Is it right to teach standard English?

““Black awareness movement”Black awareness movement”(STUDY I)(STUDY I)

Black teachers – tried not to speak Standard English to show their racial prides/identities

White teachers – did not correct their English believing that would be the way of respecting for Black students.

As a result….

Black children were not doing very good on the tests (The test was based on S.E.)

Schools didn’t realize it was from their miseducation of Black Children, but believed they were just ignorant.

Suggestions:Suggestions:

Schools need to correct their English and teach Standard English.

Children expect us to teach Standard English – Children who graduate without mastering S.E. wouldn’t get good jobs – take it out on society – society ends up paying for the free law, drug clinic, etc.

Don’t be afraid, correct them! They are capable of mastering Standard English.

We know there are black ppl out there who are uneducated coming from poverty and still mastered S.E.

““Black awareness movement”Black awareness movement”(STUDY II)(STUDY II)

We do not have enough sensitivity about non-standard English.

Everyone speaks dialects which influenced by age, education, social class, ethnic background, etc.

Non-Standard English is NOT “error” or “ignorance”, but still need to be taught from academic / economic reasons. (such as job interviews)

Correction could damage their emotions. Contrast non-standard with standard telling them

S.E. can be an option in the different contexts, rather than telling them “That’s bad English!”

STUDY III (In 2001)STUDY III (In 2001)

Non-standard English is part of U.S. history.

They should not be embarrassed. They should not be corrected. They should be proud of their heritage. How much S.E. has taken from B.E.?

Conclusion….Conclusion….

Standard English should be taught with respect their language, and understand their backgrounds

Every student has a right to get the best education to be able to deal with adults, to be successful in the world.

Teach S.E. from their level